Would have

Question

HiWhat does 'would have' mean in:But what might also be said is that within the  egalitarian order which he would have his disciples realise, a position of unquestioned privilege is none- theless preserved for the guru.Thanks in advance

GPY · Accepted Answer

In the context, it appears to be a less direct or definite way of saying "has", e.g. suggesting that the creation of the egalitarian order is an aspiration or ideal rather than a literal fact.

CalifJim · Answer

soheil1the egalitarian order which he would have his disciples realise

I think a good paraphrase is

the egalitarian order which he wishes his disciples to realise

Probably the most well known phrase with this usage of 'would have' is the following.

Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
~ Do unto others as you wish them to do to you.

Note that this is not part of a modal perfect tense where both 'would' and 'have' are auxiliaries for another verb which follows (would have seen; would have known). 'have' is causative 'have' here.

CJ

Soheil1 · Answer

Why don't you take 'realise' in the  sanse  of 'becoming    fully  aware of'?

Blue Jay · Answer

soheil1Why don't you take 'realise' in the sanse of 'becoming fully aware of'?

Because if used in that sense realise would need to be followed by what they are becoming aware of.

Soheil1 · Answer

Why  not egalitarian order  suffices?

GPY · Answer

Blue JayBecause if used in that sense realise would need to be followed by what they are becoming aware of.

I'm not sure about that, since as a result of the sentence's relative clause structure the object of "realise" actually precedes the verb. Instead, I think that the correct sense of "realise" must be determined from an understanding of what "realise the egalitarian order" means.

Blue Jay · Answer

Why not egalitarian order suffices?

To realise something (in the sense you are talking about) is to become aware that something is the case; it's not quite the same as to know about something or to understand something. You can usually replace realised in that sense with became aware that. Thus you can say She realised that she loved mathematics, or She realized that studying mathematics would get her a better job, but not She realised mathematics.
Here, They realised the egalitarian order can't mean They became aware of the egalitarian order.
It means They created, or made real, the egalitarian order.
You could say they realised the egalitarian order existed, or they realised the egalitarian order was the perfect society, or they realised the egalitarian order would bring joy and happiness to the world, all of which would indicate They became aware that.....

Edit: Cross-posted, and quote added.

CalifJim · Answer

GPYwhat "realise the egalitarian order" means

It means "bring about the egalitarian order". And, according to the rest of the sentence, within this order created by his disciples, the guru is to have a privileged position.

CJ

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